Angularly adjustable CD holder

ABSTRACT

A caddy for holding a stack of compact disk cases comprises a plurality of trays each shaped and dimensioned to hold a single compact disk case. Each tray is rotatably and slidingly connected to a pair of vertical jambs associated with a case, cabinet or other similar enclosure. The upper front edge of each tray is arcuately and concavely cut to allow viewing of the label-carrying side of the case. The front bottom part of the tray includes a window for viewing a section of the case bottom. Each tray can be flipped upwardly after having translated the entire stack of trays immediately above it along grooves in the supporting jambs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to caddies, carriers, organizers andcabinets for holding a plurality of planar articles and moreparticularly compact disks cases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Planar and substantially quadrandular articles such as documents,books, record jackets, audio cassettes, video tape cassettes, digitalrecording media cases, compact disk, and digital video disk cases aremost commonly filled or carried in cases, shelves, organizers and othersuch devices which expose to view only one edge of each of the articlesarranged in rows or vertical stacks. If the exposed edge of the articledoes not carry a label or other indicia of its nature and content, thatarticle must be pulled out from the row or stack in order to expose aface or edge carrying the sought for information.

[0003] This invention results from an attempt to simplify and expeditethe selection of a compact disk in its carrying case from a tightlyarranged stack.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The principal and secondary objects of this invention are toprovide a convenient device for holding a plurality of compact diskcases while permitting quick and easy viewing of, not only a side of thecase, but the top and bottom face as well, and to permit theincorporation of such a device in a piece of furniture or carrying case.

[0005] These and other valuable objects are achieved by a device thatcombines a stack of trays each shaped and dimensioned to cradle onecompact disk case and being protectively and slidingly connected along aback edge to a vertical pair of jambs or rails whereby each tray can beflipped upward to expose a window cut-out in its bottom and exposing asubstantial section of one of the faces of the case after having liftedthe stack of trays immediately above it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0006]FIG. 1 is an asymmetric view of the caddy;

[0007]FIG. 2 is a side view of a stack of trays translated to allow fullinspection of one of the CD cases;

[0008]FIG. 3 is a top left side and back perspective view of a tray; and

[0009]FIG. 4 is a front, bottom and right side perspective view thereof;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a caddy 1for holding a number of compact disk cases 2 in a vertically stackedconfiguration. The caddy is installed in a cavity in the front of apiece of furniture of which only part of the structural elements 3 areshown in the drawing. The caddy comprises two jambs or columns 4 mountedvertically and parallel to each other. The inner sides of the jambs faceeach other at a given distance sufficient to accommodate a stack oftrays 6. Vertical grooves 7 run along those facing sides. Each tray 6more specifically illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 has a central area orcavity 8 shaped and dimensioned to intimately cradle a single compactdisk case 2.

[0011] Each tray comprises a front piece 9 consisting of a verticalsegment 10 and a planar horizontal segment 11 joined together along afront bottom edge 12. The vertical segment 10 has a top edge 13 that hasbeen arcuately and concavely cut in order to expose a major portion of aside of the CD case held by the tray. Moreover, the planar, horizontalsegment 11 has a window 14 cut into its median section in order toexpose a portion of the bottom face of the case and facilitate thelifting of the case off the tray.

[0012] The tray also comprises two side rails 16, each consisting of anouter wall 17 joining the vertical segment 10 along a front-side corner18 of the tray. Each side rail also comprises and horizontal ledge 19having a proximal portion 20 integrally joined to the horizontal segment11. An arcuately or obliquely oriented buttress 21 connects the ledge 19to the outer wall 17. The buttress has a number of openings 22 cuttherethrough. A cross-member 23 bridges the median portions of the twoledges 19. Each side rail further comprises a vertical barrier 24integrally attached to the inner face of the side rail and to a distalportion 25 of the ledge 19. Two triangular gussets 26 have a verticaledge connected to the inner face of the vertical segment 10 and anhorizontal edge connected to the horizontal segment 11. The distancebetween the gussets 26 and the barriers 24 is equal or greater to thelongitudinal dimension of a case 2. Additional reinforcing gussets 27are provided under the buttresses 21. A pair of nibs 28, each oneprojecting horizontally and outwardly along the same axis X-X′ from arear section of the outer wall 17 are shaped and positioned to engageinto the vertical grooves 7 of the jambs 4.

[0013] The junction of the buttresses and ledges define the side-bottomcorners 29 of the trays. The distance between respective side-bottomcorners is equal or greater than the latitudinal distance or width ofthe cases 2.

[0014] It can now be understood that a compact disk case can beconveniently dropped into the cavity 8 of the tray where it is guidedinto a stable position by the slopes of both the buttresses 21 and thegussets 26, and prevented from sliding rearwardly by the barriers 24.

[0015] As more specifically illustrated in FIG. 2, each tray can betranslated vertically between the jambs 4 and even rotated or flippedupward 30 or downward 31 after having lifted the stack of trayspositioned immediately above it. The rear ends 32 of each outer wall 17is rounded and centered on the axis of rotation X-X′ in order tofacilitate the rotation of the tray. A pair of feet or spacers 33 areprovided under the buttresses 21 near the front of the trays andprojects slightly beyond the lower edge of the vertical segment 10. Thespacers are dimensioned and located to facilitate the alignment of astack of trays. The trays are so shaped and configured that when astacked one on top of the other, in the absence of any case in theircavities, they will conveniently nest into each other in order tominimize the vertical dimension of the stack. The side rails 16 areslightly flexible so that they can be squeezed to pass the nibs betweenthe jambs and then released to engage the nibs into the grooves of thejambs. A pair of short stand-offs 34 astride each nib 28 establish asmall clearance between the side rails and the jambs in order tominimize friction between these elements.

[0016] Accordingly, when looking for a particular CD case, a portion ofa label-carrying side can be first looked at through the cut-awayportion of the front piece, then, if necessary, each individual tray canbe flipped up or down to expose writing on the top or bottom face.

[0017] While the preferred embodiments of the invention have beendescribed, modifications can be made and other embodiments may bedevised without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A caddy for holding substantially flat andquadrangular articles having a given longitudinal dimension and givenlatitudinal dimension, said caddy comprising: first and second verticaljambs, each having a side facing the other jambs at a given horizontaldistance, said side having a vertical groove therealong; a plurality oftrays, each having a central cavity shaped and dimensioned to cradle oneof said articles; wherein each of said trays comprises first and secondside rails having inner surfaces spaced apart by said horizontaldistance, a front piece spanning said side rails, and a nib projectinghorizontally and outwardly from a rear portion of each one of said siderails into engagement with one of said grooves; whereby said tray isrotatively and slidingly connected to said jambs about an horizontalaxis passing through said nibs and along a vertical plane passingthrough said grooves.
 2. The caddy of claim 1, wherein said front piececomprises: a planar, horizontal segment and a vertical segment joinedalong a front-bottom edge of said tray.
 3. The caddy of claim 2, whereinsaid horizontal segment includes a medium section having at least onewindow cut-out therethrough.
 4. The caddy of claim 2, wherein each ofsaid side rails comprises: an outer wall joining said vertical segmentalong a front-side corner of said tray and including a rear sectionmounting said nib; a horizontal ledge having a proximal portion joinedto said horizontal segment; and an arcuate buttress joining an uppersection of said side rail to an outer edge of said ledge.
 5. The caddyof claim 4, wherein said buttress has at least one opening therethrough.6. The caddy of claim 4, which further comprises first and secondvertical rear barriers, each of said barriers being joined to an innerface of a rear section of said outer wall and to a distal portion ofsaid ledge.
 7. The caddy of claim 6, wherein said vertical segment has aconcavely arcuate top edge.
 8. The caddy of claim 6, which furthercomprises a spacer projecting downwardly from a proximal section of saidbuttress and beyond said vertical segment.
 9. The caddy of claim 6,which further comprises at least one substantially triangular gussethaving one vertical edge joined to a back section of said verticalsegment and a horizontal edge joined to a top section of said horizontalsegment.
 10. The caddy of claim 9, wherein the distance between saidgusset and one of said barriers is equal or greater than saidlongitudinal dimension; and the distance between the bottom corners ofsaid side rail is equal or greater to said longitudinal dimension. 11.The caddy of claim 9, wherein said articles consists essentially of CDcases.